The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 316: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FOUR SIRENS 2895 they have sent me here again on this present occasion. Now, I need not make my report for a day or two. I can pretend that I had other business, or that I could not obtain admis- sion. ‘To-morrow, therefore, you can dismiss the girls — ”’ ‘“‘ And give up the establishment,”’ added Madame Ange- lique, in a decided tone, for her mind was now relieved in more ways than one, and she was enabled to breathe more freely than she had done for some time past. “ Why break up the millinery part of the establishment? ”’ inquired Shadbolt. ‘‘ I did not mean that.” “The millinery branch,’ responded the Frenchwoman, “is nothing in comparison with the other. Though I have plenty of custom, yet what with long credit, and some of the highest families never thinking of paying at all, what with the expenses, too— Besides, Mr. Shadbolt,’’ added the milliner, in a tone of confidence, ‘‘ half my lady customers would leave me the moment this house ceased to be one of accommodation. So it is decided, —I give up everything, and I retireon my means. As for the girls, I know where to place them at once— And,” added the Frenchwoman to herself, ‘‘ I can turn a last penny by each of them.”’ “Well then, retire,’ exclaimed Mr. Shadbolt, ‘“‘ and when you are out of business, I will show you how to make more money than ever you have done while in it.”’ ‘“ You?” ejaculated Madame Angelique. ‘““ Yes, I, even I, honest Ike Shadbolt! But no matter now; you shall know all when the time comes. Go and settle down in some comfortable place, some pretty little villa on the outskirts, and make yourself as happy as the day islong. Ishall come back here in the course of the week, and shall then report to the commissioners that the establish- ment is broken up, that the girls are all gone, and that the tailor next door has bricked up the means of communication between the two houses. So there will be an end of prosecu- tions and all other unpleasantness. And now, my dear madam, if you think all this advice of mine, and all the good I am going to do you, is worth anything — ”’ “Oh, to be sure,’ ejaculated Madame Angelique, who, though she comprehended all the selfishness of Shadbolt’s disposition, was nevertheless but too glad to secure his good offices. A liberal gratuity was therefore placed in his hand, and he COMMICLOO© cS (CO)